Which do you prefer? Clean car inside or out?

[Dolf Stoppard]

Inside, obviously. It's where you'll be sitting. Plus, if you clean only the outside, it will be filthy after the hour of dry weather. And the inside will still be dirty...

[Mexman]

I'm with you on that.
Its just that the outside is so stty, it makes the car look like it's worthless

[Ilovejapcrap]

Jet wash (Underneath not paintwork)

The paint is a protection, but all them bits underneath the car and that salt that’s my first prior


1. Jetwash underneath car
2. Interior
3. Outside

That’s my priority list

[Slow]

Neither. Ideal world the outside so I can look back at my car and not think what a dirty mess it is.

I live up a half mile dirt track followed by 10 miles of single track lanes. Cars cannot remain clean outside.

Same goes for the inside, always got muddy shoes in the winter and dust everywhere in the summer (if dry). Then you add in the fact I end up lugging tools/wheels/fridges/whatever else will fit, the inside gets dirty far too fast.

[LarryUSA]

Move to California, that’s what I did! I like washing cars but rarely have to do it, sometimes just a light going over with a micro fibre towel is all that is needed to get the dust off :-)

We came back for a week last November and the state of some of the cars was shocking!

[horsemeatscandal]

Last time I cleaned the exterior of my car was about two weeks ago. Before that was October, I think. Obviously looks nice when it has been cleaned but I do admittedly think it looks good when covered in mud, too. I like to think of it as a protective layer of dirt.

Absolutely cannot stand a dirty interior though. I'm not a clean freak and don't have OCD or anything, but I feel so much more comfortable driving when my car is spick and span inside.

[tiger.banana]

It pains me to have either, but if I’m pushed for time or the weather is poor, then having a clean interior comes first as this is where you spend most of the time.
I normally do the inside and make sure the glass and lights are clean on the outside once a week, then the above plus the outside wash every fortnight.

[caelite]

Commuting through rural-ish Scotland between September and May you really can't help your car looking like this, unless you have the patience to clean it every 50miles or so. I really do wish we would use less salt.



And yes, you can in fact hear it rusting. I do like to keep the interior cleanish, dust and a bit of salt is OK. But grime, wrappers, and general rubbish I can't abide by.

[RosscoPCole]

Red 4 said:

Don't forget your small (never used) paint brush for dusting the air vents and some cotton buds for those awkward to reach places.

Magic sponge on the steering wheel and gear stick .

Yes - I really am that sad (occasionally)

Our local hand wash does a great job of the interior. They use small paint brushes to get in the vents, etc. So can't complain. Shame the exterior looked clean for less than ten miles.

[captain_cynic]

Red 4 said:

Clean the interior.

Filthy animal

I hardly ever clean the interior of my car... so much so that dust is appearing on the binnacle (must run a cloth over it at some point). However it never really looks dirty on the inside. Maybe the OP needs to look at their habits if the inside is minging after a few weeks.

caelite said:

Commuting through rural-ish Scotland between September and May you really can't help your car looking like this, unless you have the patience to clean it every 50miles or so. I really do wish we would use less salt.

50 miles... Luxury.

I used to commute from Farnborough to Reading, that meant passing by a quarry. If I'd washed my car on the weekend, it would look like I'd been rallying by the time I arrived at work on Monday morning. all of this due to about 1 mile of road on the A327 (just past the Blackbushe airport). Impossible to drive past without getting mud on your car.

Edited by captain_cynic on Sunday 21st January 01:11

[RDMcG]

I live in Canada so a clean exterior all the time is unrealistic in winter. I keep interiors impeccable and have winter rubber mats to handle snowy boots getting into car.
The exteriors are often salt encrusted.

I have summer cars that are always very clean in and out.

[vikingaero]

My cars are always spotlessly clean inside. Even the Shed interior looks like new, apart from the dated design. I'm a firm believer that if the interior is clean and tidy, then it's a good place to be when you're stuck in traffic.

I keep a small brush in the car to sweep off the mats too. After a long trip out with The Vikingettes, the first thing I do when I get home is vacuum the interior - it takes 5 minutes. I also keep a stash of supplies in the car that I replenish - drinks, mints, chocs, sweets, crisps. If we're stuck in traffic I'm the organised one stuffing my face whilst you all look at me in envy! I've even got a 5 litre bottle of water in one of that cars, tea, coffee, sugar, cutlery and a mini stove that I've used to brew up on a stationary motorway.

[FN2TypeR]

Shaw Tarse said:

Buy another car that isn't black.

Sage advice. My current car is black and my last one was dark bronze, they're awful to keep clean; more so than the white one that preceded them!

As for the question at hand, inside, for sure.

[The Moose]

I'd prefer a clean interior, however when my rental truck got real dirty last week (lots of off-road miles), my clothes would get a few dirty marks as I got in/out. So, I'd prefer to have both clean!

[Cambs_Stuart]

Keep the interior clean. I worked out I spend roughly the same time behind the wheel as I do on my sofa, so I want it to be a nice place to be.
Which will be the main thrust of my man maths justification when I send my steering wheel off to royals later this year. .

[PositronicRay]

Both cars absolutely hanging inside and out.

Wellies, boots, wet dog, winter, rain, mud, snow, salt.

I can't wait until the weather picks up and I'll feel motivated to sort them. Anyone else noticed a clean car drives better as well?

[Justin Case]

I alternate inside and out, but mainly mats on the inside, which does make a difference, and nothing gets too bad. On the other hand the boot is a real tip, out of sight out of mind

[spikeyhead]

Why let rain stop you cleaning the exterior, it makes the job easier

[Riley Blue]

I much prefer a clean interior 'cos

A) I have to sit in it.

B) I can't see the outside when I'm driving.

[vikingaero]

In the winter I put rubber mats on top of the carpet mats. It stops the carpet mats soaking up all the mud/sale/dirty water and reduces the wet smell.

Then when I get home I carefully pick up the rubber mat and shake the mud/salt/water onto the lawn.